Crash ignites West Side brushfire

A small brush fire ignited when a truck driver crashed into a power pole near the intersection of Frankton and Country Club roads on Sunday around 5 p.m.

According to West Side Fire Marshal Jim Trammel, 25 firefighters responded to the blaze, which ignited when sparks flew from the downed line.

“The driver lost control and hit the pole,” said Trammel. “That took out two other lines when it fell.” According to Trammel, the driver was treated by EMS personnel for minor injuries and later lodged at NORCOR.

The fire crews, which included West Side, Hood River, Pine Grove and Odell fire departments, Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service, secured the perimeter of the fire until Pacific Power staff could arrive to neutralize the power line.

Power was shut off to homes in the area while crews worked most of the night to repair the damaged transmission line.